And they're all Patriots, all nine of them who were drafted to the team over the three-day prospect pickup.

"I feel like we improved our team today," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in his press conference to close the 2014 NFL Draft.

It began Thursday night with the selection of Florida defensive lineman Dominique Easley with the 29th overall pick, and finished Saturday night with the seventh-round pick of Michigan wide receiver Jeremy Gallon. In between, the Patriots' depth chart got plenty more names.

After sending mini-shockwaves through the commonwealth with Friday night's drafting of Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the Patriots used their ample amount of selections in rounds four through seven to add depth, namely on the offensive line.

"It just kind of turned out that way," Bill Belichick said of taking three offensive linemen.

Beginning with the fourth-round selection of 6-foot-4, 315-pound giant Bryan Stork, a center from Florida State, the Patriots beefed up a unit that so desperately needs to keep Tom Brady upright, especially in the post-Dante Scarnecchia era. Stork has some positional versatility, as he could play either guard or center.

Stork sounded like he has been a Patriot for years.

"I just want to come in and compete for a job and go to work," he said. "That's all I'm worried about. Not going to predict that I start, I just want to play ball."

In the sixth round (179th overall), the Patriots stayed with the Florida theme that often boomerangs back around by taking offensive guard Jon Halapio, who stands 6-foot-3, 323 pounds.

Halapio played through an 80 percent pectoral tear last season, an injury that he incurred weight lifting.

"When you're in the football game you're just filled with adrenaline at the time so you don't really feel the pain that much," Halapio said. "I'm just very excited right now to just come up there and contribute fully healthy."

With the 22nd pick of the sixth round, the Patriots kept the size theme but without the name recognition by school, selecting 6-foot-5, 269-pound defensive end Zach Moore out of Div.II Concordia-St. Paul in Minnesota. File that one under "sleeper." He was the first player from Concordia-St. Paul ever invited to the NFL Combine. Apparently, the Patriots liked what they saw from the raw edge rusher.

"There's always something to prove," Moore said. "Even if I wasn't a Division II football player, I'd always have a chip on my shoulder and I'd always be a competitor."

With their other three picks, the Patriots went to the other end of the size spectrum, nabbing a trio of players who each stand under 5-10. Wisconsin running back James White (5-9, 204) got the call in the fourth round (130th overall).

Page 2 of 2 - Note that White, like former Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis, is known for his ball security, having fumbled just twice in 754 career touches. In his first 12 starts of his career in 2013, he rushed 221 times for 1,444 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"Ball security is job security," White said on his conference call. "If you want to be on a football team, you have to hold on to the football.

In the sixth round (206th pick overall), 5-foot-9, 192-pound defensive back Jemea Thomas out of Georgia Tech came aboard.

With their last pick, the Patriots went with the 5-foot-7, 185-pound Gallon.

"I was speechless," Gallon said. "It was a blessing just to get that phone call finally. I've been waiting a long, long time. It's a blessing."

Plenty of names, plenty of playing styles to get to know in the coming weeks, including the handful of undrafted free agents who are bound to come in. That also brings plenty of personalities and backgrounds to contribute to the Robert Kraft-led brand.

Fleming, for example, graduated with a degree in aeronautics and astronautics and entered the draft early. So which is tougher – rocket science or football?

"I don't think either one is harder than the other one," Fleming said.

Hitting a home run in the NFL Draft may be tougher than both of them.

Tim Whelan Jr. can be reached at 508-626-4402 or twhelan@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @thattimwhelan.